Visit to MetLife Stadium a homecoming for many Syracuse football players

Syracuse University linebacker Marquis Spruill chases Northwestern punter Brian Smith after a botched punt attempt in the first quarter of last weekend's game. Spruill is one of almost two dozen Orange players who will be playing near home today when SU takes on USC in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.Frank Ordoñez/The Post-Standard

Syracuse, NY – Three days before Syracuse University’s big game against No. 2 USC, and starting Orange defensive tackle Jay Bromley already has a problem.

Bromley’s issue has nothing to do with a sprained ankle that dogged him throughout August’s preseason camp. It involves tickets, and how to divvy up the four he received for today’s 3:30 p.m. matchup with the Trojans at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

“Even my girlfriend got mad at me,” said the junior who hails from the Jamaica neighborhood in Queens – about a 30 mile drive from the Meadowlands Complex stadium just across the Hudson River from New York City.

“Mom and dad have got to come first beyond anybody,” said Bromley, who also promised a pair to his sister and her boyfriend. “I’ll get her one. It’s only Wednesday.”

Before the Orange battles the Trojans, who come to the East Coast as one of the nation’s feared college football teams, one-fifth of the SU players are in a fight to see who can scare up enough tickets for family and friends who want to see them play close to home.

Nearly two dozen Orange players come from the greater New York City area, and at least half of them should see playing time today.

While some SU fans are upset about the prospect of driving four hours to watch a ‘home’ game, many SU players view it as a homecoming.

“MetLife is right across the bridge, so it means a lot to me,” said starting right guard Ivan Foy, from Brooklyn. “It’s hard, because my grandmother, my uncles, my cousins … right now I’ve got a list of 20-or 30-some people that want tickets. So it’s hard, but it’s exciting.”

The game will offer the Orange program a national stage (ABC-TV) to put on a show for its tri-state alumni base and a number of recruits who will be able to attend a game at the home of the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets.

SU head coach Doug Marrone was careful this week in talking about the game, which has become a sore subject with some local fans – especially after what was to be a home date with TCU was replaced on the schedule with a Nov. 17 visit to Missouri.

The change, necessitated by TCU’s aborted decision to join the Big East Conference, left the Orange with only five games in the Carrier Dome this season. The game against USC was supposed to be SU’s seventh home game.

“We understand the advantages of us going down there, from a recruiting standpoint … from a development standpoint … from the opportunity to be able to play in a great venue, which entices us specifically in recruiting,” Marrone said Thursday in his weekly pregame news conference.

The coach said that since USC is considered a home game, SU recruits can attend and many will be in the stands.

Those likely to attend include high-profile players SU continues to woo, such as linebacker Ebenezer Ogundeko and running back Laray Smith, both of Brooklyn, and several who already have made oral commitments to the Orange, including Staten Island running back Augustus Edwards and defensive tackle Wayne Williams, a Brooklyn native who plays at Nassau Community College.

“We understand that there are a lot of challenges for our fans, especially in these economic times. I understand that. We’re working hard on our fan experience at the Dome,” he said.

Tight end David Stevens, who along with wide receiver Alec Lemon will play in his first game this season after sitting out the opener, said his family will only have to travel about 20 miles from their home in Short Hills, N.J., to watch the game.

The same holds true for New Jersey residents such as starting linebacker Marquis Spruill of Hillside, kicker Ross Krautman from Franklin Lakes and left guard Zach Chibane of Paramus, about 10 miles from MetLife.

While the homecoming atmosphere will be nice for some of SU’s players, there is the matter of facing a team ranked No. 2 and is a nearly four-touchdown favorite.

“Them being the No. 2 team in the nation, that’s something that you look at,” Bromley said. “You have to bring your ‘A’ game to beat this team.”

SU players said the aura surrounding the Trojans was much greater last year, when the Orange traveled to play USC in the L.A. Coliseum and came home with a 38-17 loss. That sense of awe has faded, according to SU quarterback Ryan Nassib.

“Yeah, I would say so. Especially since we are now playing them on the East Coast, at a field that we’re a little more familiar with. There is a little less intimidation,” he said

Bromley said the Orange players have dared to dream of upsetting the mighty Trojans.